Lightweight

Joe Stevenson talks with ESPN about his upcoming fight with Kurt Pellegrino at UFC 74. Stevenson discusses Pellegrino’s skills, what strategies he will try to use in the Octagon, and whether or not he will receive a title shot if victorious.

“I’m not sure on the progress of the contract,” Tanigawa said, “but he has stated his interest in transferring to HERO’S.” Gomi’s PRIDE contract ends in September, and it appears definite his move to HERO’S will follow soon after.

Gomi seems to remain committed to fighting in his home country of Japan. He wouldn’t be the lone former PRIDE competitor that has decided to stay in his native land - Kiyoshi Tamura and Ikuhisa Minowa both recently signed with K-1 as well. If he does indeed decide that K-1 is the right promotion for him, he will have the opportunity to face some good competition.

MMA on Tap has learned the Adam Kastner (1-0) will face Adrian Wooley (2-0) in a featherweight bout at TKO 30: Apocalypse.

Adrian Wooley is a strong wrestler who sports an unblemished TKO record of 2-0. Wooley last victory came at TKO 29: Repercussion when he TKO’d Guillaume Lamarche late in the third round. Adam Kastner is a talented kickboxer who made his TKO debut at TKO MMA 2007 Tourney submitting Tommy Pariseau late in the first round.

TKO Major League MMA has announced that Dan Chambers (9-4) will meet Marcus Celestin (3-2) in a middleweight affair at TKO 30. TKO 30 will mark the debut of Dan Chambers who is coming off of a loss to UFC veteran Joe “Diesel” Riggs at Hardcore Championship Fighting. Chambers’ opponent Marcus Celestin sports a TKO record of 1-0 with his sole victory coming by submission over Brett Pearson at TKO 29: Repercussion.

In a recent interview with Sportsnet.ca, TKO president Stephane Patry stated that he is in the final stages of securing a deal which would allow him to produce a new MMA reality show which will be a mix between Big Brother and The Ultimate Fighter.

“We are in the last stage of closing the deal with a network,” said Patry. “It will have 16 guys in a house with girls. It will be a mix between Big Brother and The Ultimate Fighter.”

Interesting concept… 16 fighters in a house with girls. That could make for some interesting television, someone call Jeremy Jackson. According to the article, auditions began 8 months ago and Patry expects to make an announcement in the near future. The show will be in French, but apparently an English network is interesting in picking up the series. It’ll be interesting to see if it airs on The Fight Network as both companies have done business in the past.

The article also states that TKO is expected to make an announcement within the next week that they’ve hired a public relations firm, one that works with the Montreal Canadiens. Patry is also looking to expand within Canada in the near future.

They are also expected to make an announcement in the next week that they’ve hired a public relations firm, one that works with the Montreal Canadiens. The next thing to focus on for Patry is expansion to other venues in Canada. But he’s biding his time.

“I’m waiting until we are in a good position before going full steam with expansion,” said Patry. “I’d like to be getting 9-to-10,000 in attendance on a steady basis first before I do that.”

Not only is Patry planning to expand within Canada but he is also plans on hosting a show in the Bahamas when the UFC comes to Montreal. Patry feels the UFC will be in Montreal within the first three months of 2008 and he doesn’t want to host a show in Montreal during the same month as the UFC.

He will more than likely do a show outside Canada next year, but he’s waiting to find out exactly when the UFC will hold its Montreal event, which he expects to be in the first three months of 2008. Only then will he set his schedule, because he doesn’t want to have a show in Montreal the same month that the UFC has theirs.

“That won’t be good for either of us,” admitted Patry. “So, the same month that they come here, we’re most likely going to have a show in the Bahamas. I do five shows per year so I don’t want to have four because the UFC is coming.’

TKO 30: Apocalypse is scheduled for September 28th, 2007 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. For the latest TKO 30 fight card, check out the Rumors section.

LAS VEGAS – Headlined by two world championship fights and the arrival of a fighting legend, World Extreme Cagefighting is proud to present another explosive night of mixed martial arts action on Wed., September 5 live, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

In the championship doubleheader, “Razor” Rob McCullough defends his WEC Lightweight belt against Richard Crunkilton, and WEC Bantamweight Champion Chase Beebe will be making his first title defense when he takes on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert Rani Yahya. Also featured is former UFC lightweight champ Jens Pulver, who will be making his WEC debut against Cub Swanson.

MMA on Tap has learned that UFC veteran Drew McFedries will likely be out 6 to 8 months after suffering from a severe staph infection.

Last week it was reported that Spencer Fisher, Tim Sylvia, and Drew McFedries were all suffering from staph infections. Fisher pulled out of his fight with Din Thomas at UFC Fight Night 11 and Pat Miletich told the fighters infected not to return to the gym for at least 3 weeks.

Drew McFedries got hit the worst, suffering from an infection which grew to the size of a football on the back of his leg. The infection required surgery and McFedries had a good amount of skin removed from the back his leg which will now require grafts.

UFC lightweight contender Spencer “King” Fisher (20-3) has confirmed that a staph infection in his knee has forced him to withdraw from his fight with Din Thomas at UFC Fight Night 11.

Lightweight contender Spencer Fisher confirmed today that a staph infection in his knee has forced him to withdraw from his scheduled main event showdown with the American Top Team’s Din Thomas at UFC Fight Night Sept. 19 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Miletich Fighting Systems standout said his knee had swollen to “the size of a softball.”

According to The Fight Network, Fisher’s teammates Tim Sylvia and Drew McFedries have also been infected and Pat Miletich told them not to return to the gym for at least three weeks.

InsideFighting is reporting that Kenny Florian just returned from Afghanistan and confirmed that he signed to contract to face Thomas in the main event.

“Yeah, I am. I just signed a contract today. We got word that he [Spencer Fisher] may be out with staph. That’s a fight I want. I think Din is one of best fighters in the world. He’s got a great name and has been one of the guys I’ve been looking up to. To be the best you’ve got to beat the best and that’s what Din is” said Florian.

MMAWeekly.com caught up with UFC president Dana White to get his thoughts on Sean Sherk testing positive for steroids and his plans for the lightweight division.

“I’ll see what the Commission says and I’ll go from there,” the UFC president told MMAWeekly.

Asked if Sherk is suspended for a year, will he be stripped of his title? White answered, “I don’t know. I want to sit down with him. I want to talk to him. He’s a good man. I want to talk to him.”

White continued, “He looked me in the eye and told me like a man, ‘I didn’t do it.’ I believe him. I don’t think he’s a liar. I don’t think he’s a cheater. He’s a good guy, he works hard and I’m going to take his word for it.”

Former UFC Welterweight Champion BJ Penn pleaded no contest on charges that he allegedly assaulted a police officer outside a Hawaii nightclub in 2005.

KITV 4 News out of Honolulu reported that a police officer claimed he was punched in the face by Penn during an altercation outside of the club two years ago. The station also reported that Penn was originally charged with felony assault but is now only being charged with a third degree misdemeanor.

Penn will be sentenced in December. His lawyer has stated that he does not believe Penn will be required to serve any time in jail.